The William Osler Papers

In this letter, Barker discusses his likely decision to reject a full-time salaried position at Johns Hopkins.

Number of Image Pages:

1 (942,098 Bytes)

Date:

1913-11-18 (November 18, 1913)

Creator:

Barker, Lewellys F.

Recipient:

Osler, William

Source:

Original Repository: Osler Library of the History of Medicine, McGill University. Bibliotheca Osleriana

BO #7651

Rights:

This item is in the public domain. It may be used without permission.

Exhibit Category:

Sir William: Regius Professor at Oxford, 1905-1919

Unique Identifier:

GFBBRT

Document Type:

Letters (correspondence)

Language:

English

Format:

application/pdf

image/tif

Physical Condition:

Good

Transcript:

Nov. 18, 1913.

My dear Sir William:

Thanks for your kind note. I have not agreed to go on the basis at all as yet and think it highly improbable that it will
be possible for me to do so. As the gift has come and been accepted I have supported it in newspaper interviews, at the same
time preparing the way for my withdrawal from the headship. The plan as accepted does not seem to me to be a wise one. It
is fairly well in accord with my article of eleven years ago but not in accord with the article of four years ago which includes
the results of my experience in the clinic. I, too, favor research professorships in the clinic but the headship of the departments
would, I think, be better in the hands of part-time men as a rule. The fallacy lies in expecting one man any longer to do
all the work of a medical clinic, if research is to be introduced largely into the clinic.

It is barely possible that some arrangement can be made by which I will take the whole-time professorship. It seems to me
more likely that I will take a part-time professorship. They have offered me the whole-timeshare. If I do not accept it, it
will probably be offered to Thayer. I think it is possible that he may accept it and if he does so, we should get along very
well I think. If neither he nor I can accept it, a third man will be brought in and then we may have difficulty.

Times are worrying but I think it probable that decisions will be easy for me as the circumstances will do the deciding. I
shall keep you informed of any progress we make.